To introduce students to the process of plant growth

1. Silly
the Seed
PLANT, WATER, GROW
OBJECTIVE
To introduce students to the process of plant growth.
SKILLS
Observation, prediction.
MATERIALS
Lima bean seeds, paper towels, zip lock bag, plastic cups or plastic water bottles, shoebox.
PROCEDURE
Lesson One
Place seeds on a wet paper towel inside a zip lock bag. Plant the seeds against the
sides of clear plastic cups (or the cutout bottoms of plastic water bottles) so the
students can view the growing process.
Lesson Two
Plant five seeds in five different cups. Deprive each seed of one fundamental item
it requires: one receives no water, one no light, one is planted in sand so it receives
no nourishment, and one is placed in the refrigerator so it gets no heat. Ask students
to predict what they think will happen to each seed. The fifth is a "control" cup and
receives everything it needs.
Lesson Three
Grow or buy a bean plant. When it is about five inches tall, get a shoebox and cut
pieces of cardboard (from a separate box) in order to make walls that you attach
to the inside of the shoebox, forming a maze. Cut a hole at the opposite end of the
shoebox, and then place the plant inside the box, far from the hole. Place the lid on
top (leaving a way to water the plant) and make sure light enters the shoebox through
the hole only. Ideally, the plant will maneuver through the maze and exit the hole at the
opposite end.
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